We must speak out on Kremlin abuses

Your report of the killing of top Russian human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov (20 January) is yet another stark example of the methods deployed by the Kremlin to silence its critics. The death of Mr Markelov bears chilling resemblance to the murders of Anna Politkovskaya and Alexander Litvinenko - both of whom were good friends of mine. Like Anna and Sasha, Mr Markelov was a fierce critic of the war crimes and continuing human rights atrocities in Chechnya.

Mr Markelov's murder comes only a week after another Chechen opponent of Kremlin-backed Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov was gunned down in Vienna. Kadyrov, who is a close ally of Vladimir Putin, has also been accused of involvement in a number of other cases where his critics have been found dead, including the case of Anna Politkovskaya. Such tactics are indicative of the Kremlin's gangster politics of fear and repression that are used to suppress any meaningful opposition.

It is unfortunate that this subject is only broached in the wake of yet another brazen murder, for which the Kremlin will no doubt fail in prosecuting the true perpetrator. Yet, it is more important than ever that those of us who cannot remain silent in the face of such endemic abuses continue with our endeavours and are not cowed by the Kremlin's bully-boy tactics.Ivar AmundsenDirector, Chechnya Peace Forum